Electrical point detector foe



' q. H.-W |0N AND A. E. HUDD. ELECTRICAL POINT DETECTOR FOR RAILWAYS.

AEPLICATION EILED DEC-24.1921.

Beigsiwd- Spt. 12, 1922. 15,456.

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ATTORNEY.

G. H. WION AND A. E. HUDD.

ELECTRICAL POINT DETECTOR FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.24, 1921. Reissued Sept. 12, 1922. 15.456.

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H w h 0 PIC-3.16.

M A TTORNEY.

Reissued Sept. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT *QFFJCE.

GEORGE H. WION, or MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUs'rR LIa NnAL R Hum), OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

ELECTRICAL POINT DETECTOR FOR RAILWAYS.

Original No. 1,343,133, dated June 8, 1920,"Seria1 N0. 173,659,-fi1ed June-8, 1917. Ap

' filed December 24, 1921. Serial No. 524,773.

To all whomit ma concern.

Be it known that we, Gnonen HARRY W'IoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia (whose postofliceaddress is Victorian Railways, Spencer St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), and ALFRED ERNEST HUDD, a subject of the King '01 Great Britain and Ireland, etc, residing at Liverpool, England (whose post-oflice address is Stoneleigh, Orient Drive, Gateacre, Liverpool, England), have invented certain new and useful Improvegrovements in and Relating to Electrical oint Detectors for Railways; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and. exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in the electrical detection of the position of switch points and their locking devices with which facingor trailing points of railways, tramways, and the like are usually provided.

In connection with an interlocking system in which the movable switch points are I tion or positions of-the locking devices there for, are automatically detected. This detection is efliected by altering the electric contacts so that di'flerent circuit connections are set up for the different positions of the switch points. For example, if the switch pointsare in the normal position, the electrical contacts may be set up so that the direction of flow of current will be either positive ,or negative, with the switch points in a reversed position, the direction of flow ot pl ication for reissue current will be reversed, and with the switch points in any intermediate position, the cirput into compression'by one or more of the I bars connected to theswitch points for the purpose ofimpelling the circuit controller to assume either oftwo extreme-positions, and wherebyany predetermined movement of any one or alLofsaidbarS will postively force the circuit controller away from either of its extreme positions and into its intermediate or neutral position. l 1

Various detail characteristic features and advantages of the pointdetector embodying this invention will be pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l'is a plan of our detector-box with, its cover removed.

Figure 2 .is an elevation on line RS 0f Figure 1.

.Figure. 3 is 'a'plan oftheplunger bar, (or

its extension) and pivoted lever.

Figure .tisa plan,.and Figure'5 an elevation showing one of the" levers used. Figure 6 is a plan, and Figure 7 an elevation, showing the commutator, or circuit controller.

Figure 8 is a plan,-and F igure9 an elevation, showing'crank details. Figure .10 is a plan of a sliding bar and Figure 11 a plan of asecond sliding bar. Figure 12.is a-plan of a plunger 'bar but omitting alever. Figure 13,is an elevation of part of the detector case with its latch closed, and Figure -14another elevation thereof with the latch open.

Figure 15 is a diagram showng permanent way compound points or slips fitted .with our inventon.

Figure -16;is a diagram v'showing electrical connections.

In varous figures some of the parts have been omtted or broken outfor clearness of illustrationor to save space. Our detector box or casing ,(see Figures 1, 2, 13, and 14:) has a lid B having a water proofing gasket 36, and has latch lugs 43 and holding down bolt lugs 38*. Box A has'guides 2, 3, having bases 2 3 ,withupstanding' sides 2* 3 adapted to receive slotted sliding bars C, D, 2**, 3** are bolted cover plates.

The base 21 (F igure 2) of the detector box is provided with a guide 4 having depending sides'4 adapted to receive a slotted sliding plunger bar E (Figures 1, 2, 3, and 12) and provided with acover plate 4CFsecured with bolts. I

Base 21 having bearing plates 7 carries a shaft 5 axially arranged at the cross intersection of the longitudinal axes of the slotted sliding bars and the slotted plunger bar, shaft 5 being adapted to carry two levers F and G and base plate23 with its contacts as described. Levers G is shown as mounted to lie within slot 7 in the plunger bar E and is formed with a head cl sodesigned that at onepredetermined position of barE it may occupy recess 6 formed in one side of the long slot 7, and at another predetermined position of bar E recess 8 in the opposite side of slot 7. Alternatively lever Gr may be arranged to lie outside the plunger bar E, or clear of slot 7 and the headd (or heads as hereinafter set out) .may depend from lever Gr and occupy a recess or recesses or projection or projections as hereinafter set out. Obviously lever G could be constructed with a head (as d) at each end and recesses in slot 7 to co-act therewith.

The lever F is located within slots 15 and 16 formed in one, two, or more'sliding bars G, D, saidbars moving in a plane and in a direction other than the plunger bar E, and being connectible by rods and links to the switch points. Lever F is provided with two heads, 6, 6 designed to occupy at predetermined positions of bars 0, D recesses 11, 12, and 13, 14, formed in opposite sides of the long slots 15, 16, in bars C, D; and at other predetermined positions similar recesses 11 12 ,'and 13 14 in the opposite sides of the said slots. The said construction deals with ,a slotted bar or barsembracing lever F, but the recesses may be formed in'the outside edge or edges of said bar or bars. v

In the latter case only one head 6 or e of lever F would engage a recess in one bar, or coacting recesses in twoor more bars. Obviously projections may be employed. instead of recesses. be made with only one heade or 6 the recesses in slots 15 and 16 being arranged to co-ar-t therewith.

The bar C overlies barD, both being mov- Obviously lever F could able independently, and both being provided with bolts 0, 0 the'latter for connecting the said bars to the switch pointsthrough intermediate bars or links as is well understood.

Free to oscillate on (or integral with) shaft 5 is an oscillating base plate 23 fitted with an insulated contact carrier plate 24:

carrying electrical contacts or segments f, 7,

g, 9 and h, 71, the whole forming a circuit controller or commutator; the contacts being disposed to contact with resilient or spring fingers, i, j, k, Z, m, 'n, 0, and p, mounted on blocks 34:, 34: secured to the base 21 by screws as'shown, and with termi Lever F is connected to the plate 23 by dowels or screws 5 (Figures 4 and 5) and the lever G to said base plate by dowels or screws 6 these three parts constituting a structure oscillating positively as one solid unit, the oscillating being limited by stops 5*, 6* (Figure 1).

Lever Gr is located within slot 7 of plunger bar E, the head cl entering recess 6 or recess 8 according to the position the bar occupies in the guide 4. As the head cl of lever G enters say recess '6 the circuit controller or commutator moves into the left hand position as in Figure 1; when moved out of recess 6 by the operation of the plunger bar E, the head d,entering that portion of the slot lying between the two recesses,carries the commutator into (and holds it'in) the central or neutral position as in Figure 6.

Finally as it enters the recess 8, the commu tator is moved into the right hand position, as will be well understood. The commutator is thus arranged to occupy predetermined positions controlling the flow, and the direction of flow of electric energy.

As the heads 6, e of lever F enters say recesses 11 12 13 14 the circuit controller or commutator occupies the left hand position as in Figure 1, when they are moved out of said recesses 11 12 13 14 by the operation of the'bars ,(J, D the lever F occupies that position in which its longitudinal axis lies parallel with the longitudinal axes of bars C, D and carries the commutator into (and holds it in) the central or neutral position as in Figure 6.

F inally-when the movement ofbars O, D

, One or more such slotted bars may be em-. ployed as desired or according to the num-.

ber of switch points our apparatus" is desired to operate with or detect.

tical studs 22, 22 22 is a lever or crank 25 which carries a The base 21 of casing A carries two ver- Free to oscillate on stud roller 26 mounted on a pillar arranged to engage with the face y of a strikery carried by and secured to bar C (only one striker is required and may be secured to any of the bars as desired but not attached to more than one bar)the angles g y being cut away to permit of easy contact of striker y with the roller 26 and 26 This lever or crank also carries a standard 27 having a forked head 28 to receive the looped end of a wire 29 connected to a flanged coil spring holder 30, within which one end of a coil spring 31 is seated, the other end of the coil spring being seated in a similar holder 32 held by a wire 33 looped over a pillar 34 on-the oscillating base plate 23, (Figures 1 and'6). o

Similarly a lever or crank, spring and attachment, are provided on the other side of the oscillating base plate 23, the similar parts being numbered 22 and consecutively from 25 to 33 The function of these springs is to impel the circuit controller to assume either of two extreme positions.

Seats 35 (Figure 6) are provided on which the loops of the wire embracing pillar 34L rest. One or other of these coil springs acts to pullover the oscillating base plate 23 with its contacts f to h into either its extreme right or extreme left position according as the mechanisms are operated.

In Figure 1 it will be seen that the left hand lever 25 occupies a position unlike that of the right handlever 25 the difference also applies to the rollers 26 and 26 This is owing to the movements of'the D to the left carrying the bevel surface f into contact with the roller 26, forcing the lever or crank 25 to pivot" aboutthe stud 22, and compressing the spring 31 which is held thus by the surface g/ of the plate y until through the continued forward move ment of bars C and D the recesses 11 12 and 13 14 occupy'a position-to admit of the heads 6, e engaging with the same; and recess 6 of slot 7 in bar E also occupies aposition to admit of the head (Z of lever G engaging with the same, when the spring 31 willimpel the controller to its extreme left positionas in Figure 1. I

When the bars C and D are moved in an opposite direction, and roller 26 isreleased from surfaces .y y these parts 25, 26, 27, 28 assume the position corresponding to that I which parts 25 bars C and e 26 27 '28 are shown as occupying in Figure 1. If the movement of bars C and D be continued the surface f r will contact with roller 26 and with the same resultsin respect to spring 31 and the circuit controller will be impelled tothe extreme right hand position, provided all bars C, D, E, are in their proper positions.

If any bar C, D, or E fail to complete its travel so as to occupy the position described the controller will beheld in a central or neutral position against the pressure of spring 31 or 31 1 To secure cover B to case A hinge lugs Z, Z having holes 2 e are provided to receive pins projecting from lugs on the co-ver. On the opposite side of lid 13 are bolt lugs 37 between which is pivoted an L shaped link 38 in which is a hole 39 for the hasp of a padlock. Pivotally attached to link'38 is an L shaped lever short arm and a slot 42 through which the short arm of link-38 protrudes leaving hole '39 clear to receive the padlock hasp. The latch lugs 13 on case A have a depending lip or claw 4:9 with which the projection or projections 41 engage as in Figure 13, when lever 10 is in the position shown.

For the purpose of describing the operation of our invention we assume the parts in Figure 1 occupytheir normal position when the head cl of lever G occupies the re cess 6 of slot 7 of plunger bar E; and the heads e, e of lever F respectively occupy the recesses 1-1 11 in bar C and 13 12 in bar D, and the contact plate 2 1 occupyingthe position in Figure 1 over against stop 5 Conversely the parts occupy their reverse positions when the head d of lever G occupies recess 80f slot 7 of plunger bar E, and the heads e, e of lever F res ectively occupy the recesses 12, 13 in bar f, and 11, 1 1 in, bar D, and the contact plate 24: occupies a position to the right over againststop 6.

The recesses 14 11 in bar C-and 13 12 in bar Dregister with heads 6, e of lever F, and recess 6 in bar E registers with head d of lever Gr when the switch points are, say, normal; and the recesses 12, 13, in bar Cand 11, 14: in bar D-register with headsje, e of lever F and recess 8 in bar E registers with head d of lever G, when the switch points are, say reversed.

The said recesses may be so disposed and made of such length as to act upon the lever F and G so that when either or all of-the bars C, D and E are moved from either their normal or reverse positions by-any predetermined amount of the said arms, together with the contact plate 2 1, will be positively forced towards the central position against the pressure of the springs 31 or 31 The recesses above referred to may be formed of any desired length so that any predetermined movements of bar E, ban C,

10 having a lip or-lips 41 on its 'plate 24) towards its central or bar D will force the contact plate 24 to the I position'thereby making or breaking central circuits, as may be arranged according to the disposition of contact springs as i, k, Z, Z, m, 11,70, and 0 in relation to the contacts segments as 7, g, g, h, H, as may be mounted upon the contact plate 24.

An incorrect movement of the plunger bar E or the switch points acting through the bar C, D, will always positively move the oscillating base plate 23 (with contact position; and thus we obtain the required detection of the condition of a pair of points and its lock.

- When the plunger bar E pushes against the head 6! of lever G it forces it, out of recess 6 or8 against the 31 ;the lever G rides hard on the edges of slot 7 until the spring pressure is released,

by movement of bars C, D, connected to the switch points.

The foregoing tector as applied description refers to a deto a single pair of switch points and as would be constructed for left hand location. t

Figure '15 shows an application of our invention to compound switch points or double slip switches. Two each of bars as Cand D with recesses as shown are used, but with the difference that one end of each of the two bars C which lie between the two bars D, is curved, for instance as shown in Figure 15. Striker 3 is attached as before to one bar only, preferably the uppermost and the lever F must be deep enough to engage all the said bars. The curved ends of bars 0 allow upper and lower pivot bolts 66 one in each bar to be clear of pivot bolts 67 on bars D;

To the bars C are pivoted by bolts 66 two bars or rods 50, 53. Rod 50 is pivoted to the top bar 0, and rod 53 is pivoted to the bottom bar C.v Rod 50 is pivotally connected to an extension piece 52 attached to switch point 51, which closes on to a rail 70. Rod 53 is pivoted to an extension piece 54 attached to switch point 55 which closes on rail 71.

Pivoted to the bars D by bolts 67 are two bars or rods 65 and 66. Rod 65 is pivoted to the top bar D and rod 66 is pivoted to the bottom bar D. Rod 65 is pivotally connected to the extension piece 59 attached to switch point 61 which closes on to the rail Rod 66 is extension piece 64 attached to switchpoint 67 which closes on to the rail 71".

The extension 52 carries a bracket or lug 56, pivotally connected to which is a bar 57 pivotally connected to a bracket or lug 58, carried by an extension piece 59 attached to switch point 61, which closes on to a rail 70, thus linking'together the switch points 51 and 61, and unison.

compelling. both to move in pressure of spring 31 or to j of box J by wire pivotally connected to an The extension 54 carries a bracket or lug 60, pivotally connected to which is a. bar 62 pivotally connected to the switch point 67 which closes on to the rail 71*, thus linking the two switch points 55 and'67 together and compelling both to move in unison. Bars. 57 and 62 are linked suitable locking mechanism (not up to any illustrated) operated by plunger rod E, an extension of which passes through the detector box and contains sldt 7. i

The motion of the switch pointswill simultaneously operate the bars C and D and the parts in the case A, including the oscillating base plate 23 with electrical contact springs carried thereby,

reverse, or intermediate (that is any posi- (C ,7 made Figure 16 illustrates an application of our invention in which two complete detector boxes J and K are connected in two separate setsof switch points operated by a common lever int-he signal box, but in detector box K the segments a and k shown in the box J are omitted.

It will be understood that the parts diagrammatized in Figure 16 are linked up as usual to the parts with which the work and with semaphores or other signalling means.

The class of energy may be either alternating ordirect current, and of whatever voltage is desired;

H is a polarized or three position relay having terminals 44, 45; terminal 44 is connected by wire W to the contact spring n of detector box K, and terminal 45 through wire W to spring 0 of same detector. The spring n of box K is also connected through wire W to j; 0 to 70 of box K through wire Wi p of K to 0 of box jby wire W and m of box K to n of box J by wire W Z of box K toll", of Box J by wire V 2' of box K W, p ofbox J to i of box J by Wire W, and m of box J to Z ofbox J by wire W. i 1

Spring Z of box J is also connected by wire W to one terminal N (say negative) of a source of electrical energy; and z of box J by Wire W to the other terminal P (say positive) of the said source of The contact carrier of box J is provided with contacts, 7", f 72 k and the contact plate carrier of box K with contacts 7, f 9 and 72/. Y

When the switch points are in say, the normal position as illustrated" the connections'will be as follows Positive energy will flow from terminal P over'Wire W to spring z of box J through contact segment f through Wire W to a bracketor lug 63 carried by the extension piece 64 attached thus revealing the positions of the said points whether normal,

energy.

to j of box J; thencev to z' of box K, through seglnentf to j of box K,-and thence over wire W and wire W to44 ofrelay H,=through a coil or winding 46 to 45. of relay H,

over wire W and wire "W to is of box K, through segment f to Z of box .K,

thence over wire W to loot box J through to operate so as to close a set-of electrical contacts correspondingto the assumed normal position of the rail points.

When the switch pointsare inthe reverse position to the above the connections will be as follows Positive-energy will flow from terminal P over wire W and W to contact 10 of box J, thenceithrough segment 7 to 0 of box J, over Wire W to p of box K, throughsegment to o of box K, thence over wire W to terminal 45 of rela H, through a coil or winding 46 of relay to 44, thence over wireYV to -n of box K, through segment f to m of box K, via wire Wto n of box J, through segment to m of box J, thenceover wire W and wire W to terminal N. 1

Wires'VV and W connectedto j and In of box J are short circuited through segment 9 of box J. 1

The flow of current through relay causes the latter to operate so as to close a set of electrical contacts corresponding to the assumed reverse position of the switch points.

normal position the current flowed through 44 to 45, and that in the reverse position the current flowed through the coil 46 from 45 Signals governing train movements over switch points to which box J and box K are attached may have their electrical control circuits taken through either normal or reverse contacts in relay H as may be required, thus detecting that said points are in their proper position for the desired train movement.

If any condition such as previously outlined causes the base plate 23 of box K with its contact plate 24 to occupy a central position all energy will be disconnected from contacts n, 0 of box K and 7:, j of box K; and further, wires W and W will be short circuited between 'n and 0 through segment h of box K, and between 7' and k of box K through segment 9 of K, thus leaving the coil or winding 46 of relay H disconnected from energy as well as being short circuited. Assumin another condition in which box K is norma and box J occupies the central position :In this position all energy is disment It W111 be seen that when the parts were in connected fromcontactsk-and j ofbox J,

and wires W and W are short circuited between 7' and k-and'through segmentg of box J, thus again leavingthe coil 46of-relay H disconnected from energy and sh'ort'circuited.;

I Assuming another condition in which box K is reversed and box J occupies the cen-' tral positiOnz-llhen' all energy is discon-- nected from thecontacts n and '0 of box J,

and wires 7V and W "are short circuited be-- tween 0 and at through segment hof box thus again leaving'the coil46 -of relay disconnected' from energy and short" circuited."

Assuming another condition ina'vhich box K is normal; and box -J is'-reversed:-Then all energy is disconnected from contacts j and is of box J and wires W and V are" short circuited between j'ancl lcthrougli seg 46 disconnected from energyfand short= q cuited. H, r,

q ofbox J, thus again leaving the coil Assuming another-condition in which box K is reversedand box J normals-Then all energy is disconnected from contactsm, 'and 0 of box J, and wires W nand W are short circuited between 0 andn through segment h of box J, thus again leaving the coil 46 of relay H disconnected from'e'nergy and short circuited. I f

In the foregoingvwe'havegdescribed and illustrated mechanism or 'mechanismsto give effect to our'invention, but-we do not limit ourselves to parts as shownin the drawings but may adopt modifications without dc partingv from our invention. E

What we claim as'new and-desire Letters Patent for is l V 1. Detector apparatus for switch" points withthe bars, and a controller to'be moved or oscillated near the point-o f' intersection of the bars, as and for thepurposes set "forth; 2. A detector apparatus forswitch points including bars movable with theswitch points, levers connecting with thebars, and

a controller movable about the point of. in

tersection of the bars, substantially as de 4. Detector apparatus for switch points including intersecting bars having slots therein and recesses in the slots, levers occupying the slots in said bars and having heads to engage in said recesses, and a controller connected to said levers, substantially as described.

5. Detector apparatus for switch points including intersecting bars having-v slots therein and recesses in "the slots, levers ocincluding intersecting bars, levers "to c'o-act I I cupying the slots ,in said bars and having heads to engage in. said recesses, and a controller movable about the point of intersection of the bars and connectedto said levers, substantially as described; i

6. In a detector apparatus for switch points and their locking mechanism, the

' points, and their locking-.-mechanism, the

combination of barsmovable with the switch points and having slotstherein and recesses in the slots, a plunger bar movable: with the locking mechanismandhaving a slot therein and recesses in the slot, a controller, and a pair of levers rigidly connected to said controller, oneof said levers being fitted in the slots in said first mentioned bars, theother leverbeing arranged in theslot in said plunger bar, said levers having heads engageable;

in the recesses in said bars, the levers; being rocked by the movement of said bars, sub-v stantially as described; 7 v

8. A point detector for-railway switches comprising, a contact carrying member'movable from acentral position to either of two extreme circuit controlling positions,insu-. la-ted contact springs cooperating with the contacts carried by said member to govern circuits in each of the positions of said mein ber, resilient means for moving said carrier to its-extreme positions, pendently movable bars separately connected to the switch points and each having recesses spaced longitudinally thereon, and means connected to said carrier, and provided with projections cooperating with said recesses for permitting movement of the carrier to an" extreme position'when all of the bars are in a corresponding extreme position and for said bars are rier mounted for oscillation of intersection of the bars and locking plun a plurality of inde-,

, ed to its unlocked positively forcing the carrier" to-its central position upon displacement of any one of the are from its extreme positions. 1

9. A point detector for. railway switches comprising, an oscillata-ble contact "carrier shiftable from a central position to either of two extreme circuit controlling positions; said carrier having pro ections on opposite sides of its axis of oscillation, spring means for moving said carrier toits extremepo sitions, and a plurality of independently move able bars separately connected to the switch points, each of said bars having spaced re-' cesses adapted to'receive the oppositely dis posed projections-on the carrier and thereby permit the carrier to be oscillated bythe' s rin means to one extreme ositionwhen" all of thebars are in a corresponding ex-' treme position, said recesses and projections also cooperating to positively forcethe car rier to its, central position when any'one'of the bars is displacedfrom an extreme posi-,

tion.

points and their locking mechanism,

ranged side by sideand separately connected to-the switch points',,alocking plunger disposed at an angle to said bars, a contact carer, spring means for moving said carrier lrom a central position toits extreme-positions, means on each of said bars and on the carrier collectively cooperating to permit the carrier to assume an extreme position when allof the bars'are in a corresponding extreme position, said means acting to positively force-the carrier to 1ts central position when any one of said bars is displaced from its extreme positions,and means actuated by the locking plunger for positively forcing the carrier to its central position independently of said bars when the plunger is shiftposition. GEORGE H. WION.

ALFRED E. HUDD.

10. In a detector apparatus for switch a plurality of independently 'movable bars ar-' near the point 

